Velocipede frame



j 1940- B. J. ANDERSON 2,202,282

VELOCIPEDE FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1957 INVENTOR.

A ORNEY.

May 28, 1940 B. J. ANDERSON VELOCIPEDE FRAME Filed Nov. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. BY Q5 7 9 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED srArEs rarest FFICE This invention relates to an improved velocipede frame and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for economically producing a device of the kind referred to which because of its simplicity and ease of assembly may be shipped knocked down.

Another object of importance resides in the provision of means for assembling the major parts of the unit to produce a rigid and practically indestructible frame.

Still another important object of advantage of the improved frame of this invention is the provision of means for forming a seat support of portions of the upper edges of the assembled stampings.

A further object of importance and advantage resides in the provision of means for forming a fender for the front wheel by the outward flaring of portions of the lower edges of the stampings.

An additional advantage of importance of the improved frame of this invention resides in the provision of means for securing an annularly recessed steering post bushing in the frame.

Additional objects of importance and advantage will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a velocipede frame which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device.

Fig. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a slightly enlarged vertical section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 parts thereof being broken away. i

As shown. in the drawings:

The reference numeral it] indicates in general the backbone portion of the improved velocipede frame of this invention. In the preferred embodiment of the structure the back bone lilis made up of complementary right and left-hand stampings which for clarity are indicated by the reference numerals l2 and M respectively. The stampings I2 and It are identical before assem-- bly with the exception that the flange It on the stamping l2 is slightly larger than the flange l8 on the stamping Hi. The flange i6 is adapted to be crimped over the flange l8 when the stampings are assembled as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Formed in the forward portion of the joined stampings is an aperture 20.

Positioned in the aperture 20 and secured against removal by rivets 22 is a steering post sleeve 24. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the steering post sleeve 24 has a number of annular recesses 26 formed on the'inner surface thereof which are adapted to retain a lubri- 5 cant. The outer surfaces of the annual recesses are adapted to co-act with similar formations in each stamping as is best shown in Fig. 3.

The sleeve 24 has a cylindrical upper portion and a substantially semi-spherical lower portion, 10 The interior surface of the lower portion of the sleeve 24 provides an exceptionally wide bear ing surface for a fork.

Directly beneath the aperture 20 and extending for a distance to the front and rear thereof 15 the lower edges of the stampings l2 and M are flared outwardly to form a fender 23. The fender, thus formed is an integral part of each stamping. Consequently, additional strength and rigidity are acquired as compared to the conventiona.l.20 construction without any additional cost whatsoever.

The rear lower end of each stamping l2 and I4 is provided with a plurality of apertured tongues 38] which provide a means for securing 25 the back bone portion 9 ll of the frame to its associated rear portion 32.

The rear portion 32 of the frame is provided with a substantially flat central part M to which the back bone portion I0 is secured.

The tongues 30 on one side of the back bone portion of the frame are adapted to be inserted through registering openings in the rear frame. This construction permits the tongues of one side of the backbone to be secured by bolts 36 to the 35 under surface of the rear portion of the frame. and the tongues on the opposite side to the upper surface. a

This construction in addition to being easily assembled also provides a structure wherein tor- 40 sional and lateral strain and stress are against the tongues themselves and not against the securing bolts 36.

The central portion of the upper portion of the backbone l0 extends upwardly and thence outwardly as is best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, to form a seat support 38. Apertures 48 are provided for securing a seat thereto.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided a device which may be shipped knocked down and readily assembled at its destination by unskilled persons Without the use of special tools or equipment.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in the particular construction disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the patent granted hereon is not to be limited by the disclosure herein or in any manner other than by the appended claims when given the range of equivalent to which the patent may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

A velocipede frame including a pair of stampings joined along portions of the upper and lower edges thereof, a portion of the lower edge of each stamping closely adjacent the front thereof being flared outwardly and downwardly to provide a combination fork socket and fender integral with said frame, and a steering post bushing in engagement with said outwardly and. downwardly flared portion and extending upwardly therefrom.

2. A velocipede frame including a pair of complementary stampings joined along the upper edges thereof, the lower edges of the forward portion of said joined stampings being flaredoutwardly and spaced apart, means for maintaining said outwardly flared edges in spaced apart relation, said means comprising a bushing having a cylindrical upper portion and a semispherical lower portion, and a plurality of annular ribs formed on the cylindrical upper portion of the bushing, said annular ribs being adapted to engage complementary ribs formed in said frame.

3. A velocipede frame including a pair of complementary stampings, a portion of the front lower part of said frame being expanded outwardly to receive wheel supporting means, a steering-post bushing vertically disposed near the front end of said frame, the upper portion of said bushing being cylindrical and the lower portion thereof being semi-spherical, means for maintaining said bushing in operable position in said frame, said means comprising a plurality of annular recesses formed in the outer surface of said cylindrical portion co-acting with a like number of inwardly projecting bosses on the inner surface of said frame.

BERT J. ANDERSON, 

